In the summer of 2009 I had the great privilege of traveling to Rwanda, where I spent 10 days with Immaculee Ilibagiza (Left to Tell) and a handful of others from around the world.  It was an emotional journey, and I cried every day, to the point that it became a running joke.  “Let’s see…it’s 10 a.m. and Kitty hasn’t cried yet–should be coming soon!” Rwanda is where over one million people were slaughtered in a genocide that lasted for three months in 1994.  It is also the site of the only Vatican-approved Marian appparition on the continent of Africa.

Our time was split between the capital city of Kigali and the small village of Kibeho where Mary appeared to a number of young people in the 1980’s.  To tell you about all of our adventures will take hours of typing and editing pictures, so I promise to do that for you when I get a little free time.

For now the easiest way for me to share it is in person with my laptop and a projector.  If you would like to me to share my experiences with your parish or group, as well as provide information about the apparitions in Kibeho, please just give Joe Condit at CMG Booking a call.  I love show and tell, especially about this trip!

On October 25, 2008, I was blessed to sing my homage to Katrina, “Eye of the Storm,” at the 9th Annual Unity Awards ceremony, which is the Catholic equivalent of the Grammy Awards.  The Xavier University Gospel Choir provided soulful back-up singing, which was a thrill for me, and the 2007 remix of Surrender was a finalist in a number of categories, winning Album Packaging of the Year.  My husband has been calling me “Miss Shrinkwrap 2008.” 🙂

The Unity Awards, being held for the first time in New Orleans, also featured performances by Tony Melendez, John Michael Talbot, Matt Maher, Sara Hart, Kara Klein, Trish Foti Genco, Matthew Baute, Sharmane Adams, local choirs and much more.  Please see www.UnityAwards.com for more information about the winners.  It was a great night of music with some of Christian music’s finest talent

This CD presented unique challenges (e.g. traveling to Scotland with a toddler in tow; trying to stay on pitch without any accompaniment or anyone to listen to me; learning 17 ancient Gregorian chants, all of which were new to me), as well as great joys (e.g. all of the above challenges, plus working with Joe Hand and David Smith; singing in a medieval cathedral in Scotland; and getting to attend an old friend’s wedding in a Scottish castle on my “day off”–so fun!).  I am humbled by the final product, which could only have been accomplished with the help of some very special friends and a great deal of divine assistance.

(Report after returning from Scotland in October, 2007):

I am happy to report that our October trip to Scotland was everything I had hoped it would be!  I began by singing for the wedding of a dear friend in the great hall of the Doune Castle (we were greeted with the father/son bagpipers above); was able to record most of the Gregorian chant CD (which is scheduled for an Easter release–see The Scotland Project for more information) in the 13th century Dunblane Cathedral; and gave two “Be Not Afraid” concerts in Glasgow (site of the June terrorist airport bombing).

At the end of our trip–and just after filming my exhausted 3-year-old Ceci bobbing to sleep in one of those wonderful British taxis–I left my camera on the seat.  ARGGHHHH!  Alas, the camera and all of my wonderful pictures for the CD are gone with it.  I found some links online to similar pictures, and others sent me pictures of the wedding, so this is something like what I had to show you:

• A rainbow over a scenic river and bridge, with Doune Castle in the background (you can imagine!)
•   (Doune Castle)
• About a dozen men standing in the Doune Castle courtyard drinking champagne in their colorful tartan kilts.
• Ceci, my mother and I arrive at Doune Castle:
• This is Ceci and me as she “helps me” right before I have to sing for the wedding:
• Note said daughter hiding under my wrap while I sing–it was a bit chilly in there!
• This is the champagne reception in the King’s Hall of the castle.
• This was the first of several phases of the reception, which lasted 10 hours!
• The beautiful Dunblane Cathedral
•  (Dunblane Cathedral)
•  (The Dunblane Cathedral choir, where I recorded the chant CD)
• The lovely smiling faces of the audiences at my concerts and at the parties afterwards (while the group was small, five continents were represented at the University of Glasgow concert).  This part I just have to remember and you have to imagine. *sigh*
• The view of Stirling Castle at night from our bedroom window in Bridge of Allan
• The charming little village of Deanston on the River Teith (we stayed with the bride’s parents after the wedding in one of those flats on the left–and the sky really was blue!)
• 
• The magnificent 12th c. Glasgow Cathedral
•  (Glasgow Cathedral)

When time allows, I’ll share more details of this anointed trip, especially the singing experiences in the Deanston Cathedral and the concerts.  In the meantime, I’m gearing up for my December concerts and working on the Gregorian chant CD.  Please keep this new project in your prayers!

Be Bot Afraid won the 2007 “Album of the Year (Devotional)” award.  I received the award right before I sang “Now You Come to Me,” the song I wrote for Pope JP II the night that he died.  I dedicated the award and the song to my dad, my special intercessor in heaven, which explains the tears.

Pictured here with fellow New Orleanians Raymond Arroyo (pithy host of the awards ceremony), and artist Kara Klein:

Pictured below with Kara and Alejandro Monteverde, writer and director of the movie Bella.

• A few different Latin Masses
• Veni Creator Spiritus
• O Sanctissima
• Salve Regina
• Tantum Ergo
• Panis Angelicus
• Ave Maria
• Pater Nostra
• Adoro Te Devote
• Regina Coeli
• Ave Verum Corpus
• Pange Lingua Gloriosi
• Parce Domine
• Ubi Caritas
• Attende Domine
• Jesu Dulcis Memoria
• Ave Maria

In addition to having phenomenal talent and sincere humility, she says on the AI website bio that her personal goals are "to represent Christ well and to do everything 150%."  What a gal!  And what a special addition she makes to the new CD.  She is also joined by some other wonderfully talented gospel singers, who truly took the songs ("Eye of the Storm", "Now You Come to Me", and "God Will Provide") to a whole new level.  "Bravo!" to Jason Eskridge and Missi Hale.

I saw an interview with Melinda in which she says that she had no discernable talents as a child, and that she was completely tone deaf.  She tried gymnastics, but that was a disaster (one thing she and I have in common).  And then in the seventh grade she decided to ask God to give her the gift of singing (that was the same year that it all started for me, as well).  He certainly answered her prayer!

(Re:  Be Not Afraid CD, 2007) Most impressive is the consistency sustained throughout the album. Cleveland’s abiding faith and reverence for God forms the basis of every song. And, as such, it’s difficult to pick favorites since it’s the kind of record that can be played repeatedly, from the first track to the last, without tiring of it…"Eye of the Storm" captures the full strength of Cleveland’s artistry. With a gospel choir that gives the sound a heavenly measure, Cleveland has offered the world a gift that, obviously, was divinely inspired. A tribute to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, this song could elevate Kitty Cleveland to star status. B. B., Music Connection Magazine, Los Angeles, CA

Kitty, your concert was so beautiful–I immediately liked EVERY selection when you sang it and again as I heard it going home on the CD! By now,my daughter and I have memorized all of the songs pretty much, and we compete for who gets the CD at home. We have "joint custody"–taking turns with listening to it at home, and then agreeing to listen to it first in the car!!  Mary T, Kenner, LA

I got Kitty's newest CD in the mail a couple of days ago and I think I've listened to it 4 times since yesterday. It's awesome!  Anyway, I just love the CD…Caroline S., Washington, DC

The new Be Not Afraid CD is fabulous. I was crying so hard yesterday listening to it I could hardly get out of my car and go into church without looking like I was a basket case!  Kitty is being used as an instrument in God's hand to draw people into a higher place of worship and awe. I quickly ran out and bought a bunch more to give as gifts.  Jan T., New Orleans, LA

Dear Kitty, I just had to write and thank you so much for being there for all of us at the Women's Day at St. Luke.  You sound even more beautiful in person.  I am so glad I purchased your "Be Not Afraid" CD.  "Fragrance Prayer" really brings the Holy Spirit into my heart as soon as I hear it.  It fills me with joy.  Your Eye of the Storm song brings chills all over me.  As you were singing "I will fly to you" a dove landed on one of the windows above the stained glass Jesus.   I know because I have a family of doves that lives in my tree in my yard.  Anyway, I just knew that the Holy Spirit flew to watch you sing that beautiful song and to be with us.  It still brings tears to my eyes.  Thank you for giving us such a wonderful gift and being part of such a wonderful day.  And thank you again for sharing the gift God gave you with your voice and songwriting.  Patrycja B, Slidell, LA

While we were exiled in Beaumont, TX after Hurricane Katrina, I spent a lot of time in an adoration chapel that was close by.  I spent hours in prayer trying to make sense of what had happened to my beloved home town of New Orleans, and out of that prayer came the words and melody for the song “Eye of the Storm.”

The soulful ballad was a real gift, and I sent it to the brilliant Bob Halligan (pictured at left, www.CeiliRain.com) for his songwriting input.  In the meantime, his new single “Kneeling” took off on the Christian charts, and I couldn’t get a copy of the finished music from him before I left for Nashville to start recording the new CD (Be Not Afraid).  Needless to say, I was anxious to get my hands on the it before I headed back home.

In the “God never sleeps” file, I arrived in Nashville to work with producer Joe Hand–only to find that Bob, who lives in New York, was also working in the studio that day!  What an unexpected blessing.  We added a bridge and gospel chorus, which makes the song even more special.  What a joy it was to sing and harmonize with him!

“Eye of the Storm” is on the Be Not Afraid CD, and the gospel choir will give you goosebumps!  In fact, one of them almost won American Idol a few months after the release (Melinda Doolittle came in 3rd place).

I was scheduled to sing for Pope John Paul II in an audience on Nov. 30, 2005, (my third opportunity to be with him on this trip–what a blessing!), but he ended up having a stomach virus that caused his secretary to cancel all but a few important exchanges.  This necessarily excluded me.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but God knows what He is about, and I’m sure the Holy Father was much more in need of rest than in hearing me sing the “Ave Maria”.  One really cool unexpected blessing, though, was that Archbishop Hughes (my archbishop) and all of the bishops from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky were in town for their ad limina visit, and I was invited by Fr. Christopher Nalty, a priest friend who works at the Vatican, to sing for their Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica.  So there I was with about 25 bishops, a dozen or so priests and two other lay people, where I got to sing at the tomb of St. Peter!  The tombs of many, if not all, of the past canonized popes also surrounded us.  It was really very special for me–I felt so small in the Big Picture of our rich Catholic heritage.

I flew out two days later and went straight to AZ, where I had a concert in a really fun and vibrant parish, St. Timothy (where LifeTeen was founded).  After I told them the story I just told you, someone spontaneously yelled out, “Hey, Kitty–it’s OK.  You sang for the FIRST Pope!”  Well, what a cool way to think about it, huh?  (I guess I just forgot to tell God *which* Pope I was hoping to sing for :-).  Another friend has since commented that maybe I was also singing for the future pope!  Hmmm…..

Anyway, the bottom line is that as much as I wanted to tell myself that I just wanted to lift up JPII in prayer and honor Mary with my song, I realized that a little hidden part of myself really wanted it for ME–to feel special, to have the public recognition that God really has chosen me to do this work for Him, etc.  I was reminded that God has His own plan for us and for our ministry/life’s work, and our job is to accept His will with docility, gratitude and joy. In fact, John Paul II was to die only a few months later.

Some days He may want me to sing for bishops and cardinals and popes, other days He may want me to sing for people who are marginalized and broken and forgotten, and still other days He may just want me to be silent.  I’m learning that the joy comes in wanting whatever it is He wants.

Love and blessings in this beautiful Year of the Eucharist.  Let’s pray for each other +